Virtual kidnapping scams on the rise

Here's how to protect yourself

Here's how to protect yourself

WEBVTT ION INTO A SCAM THATCONSUMER REPORTER BRIAN ROCHESAYS IT THE SCARIEST HE HAS EVERSEEN.KIM: AS BRIAN EXPLAINS, ASCAMMER CALLS AND SAYS YOURCHILD HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED.>> HELLO?WHEN I ANSWERED THE PHONE, ALL IHEARD WAS A HYSTERICAL GIRL.REPORTER: AS JEFF CUNNINGHAMTRIED TO MAKE SENSE OF THISBIZARRE CALL A MAN GOT ON THE, PHONE.>> HE SAYS LISTEN CAREFULLY, WEHAVE YOUR DAUGHTER.IF YOU FOLLOW MY DIRECTIONS, YOUWILL SEE HER AGAIN.IF YOU HANG UP THE PHONE ANDCALL POLICE, WE WILL KILL HER.REPORTER: JEFF WAS TOLD HENEEDED TO SEND THE KIDNAPPERTHOUSANDS OF DOLLARS>> HE SAYS, YOU NEED TO GO TOTHE BANK, FOLLOW MY DIRECTIONS.KEEP THE PHONE ON AT ALL TIMES.REPORTER: HE GRABBED HISCHECKBOOK AND BOLTED OUT THEDOOR.AFTER A STOP AT THE BANK WITHTHE PHONE STILL ON JEFF WAS, ABOUT TO WIRE TRANSFER THEMONEY WHEN HIS DAUGHTER CALLED HIM.>> WHEN I CAME HOME, I SAW HISCAR WASN'T HERE.>> I ANSWERED THE PHONE AND SHEASKED ME, WHERE ARE YOU?REPORTER: THAT'S WHEN JEFFREALIZED HE WAS BEING SCAMMED.THE FBI ISSUED A WARNING ABOUTTHIS A FEW MONTHS AGO, CALLINGIT VIRTUAL KIDNAPPING.AND THEWARNING, THE FBI SAID GANGS INMEXICO WHERE BEHIND US, ANDVICTIMS WERE ASKED T TURN MONEYOVER TO A NIGHT IS IN MEXICO.IT WAS TURNED OVER TO THEPOLICE.THE QUESTION WAS THE SCAM CALLER, TARGETING JEFF?>> YOUR DAUGHTER'S NAME WASNEVER MENTIONED?>> NO, HE NEVER MENTIONED HERNAME.REPORTER JEFF REALIZES THAT WASONE OF SEVERAL WARNINGS OF ASCAM HE MAY HAVE MISSED, BUT ATTHE TIME, HE WAS ONLY FOCUSED ONSAVING HIS DAUGHTER'S LIFE.>> THAT ONE HOUR WAS THE WORSTHOUR OF THE 66 YEARS I'VE BEENON THE EARTH, BY FAR.REPORTER: SINCE HE WAS ALL ALONEWHEN THIS HAPPENED, JEFF WASUNABLE TO TURNTO ANYONE ELSEFOR HELP.IF YOU GET A CALL LIKE THIS, DOWHATEVER YOU CAN TO MAKE SUREYOUR LOVED ONE BEING THREATENEDIS SAFE.IF THERE'S SOMEONE WITH YOU,WRITE THEM A NO, ASK YOU TO CALLTHEIR LOVED ONE.THAT SCAMMER WILL NOT LET YOUGO.THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OFTHE SCARIEST SCAMS I'VE EVERSEEN.I'VE TOLD YOU A LOT OF SCAMS,THIS ONE MAKES ME VERY ANGRY,BECAUSE THEY TAKE YOUR LOVE FORYOUR FAMILY AND USE IT AGAINSTYOU.MAY USE YOUR FEAR AND DON'T LETYOU GET OFF THE PHONE.WHEN PEOPLE FALL FOR THIS, ITREALLY MAKES ME ANGRY.WE ARE PARENTS.WE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SAVE OURKIDS.KIM: IT'S REALLY DISTURBING.

Virtual kidnapping scams on the rise

Here's how to protect yourself

Virtual kidnapping scams are making headlines again - when criminals demand money from victims in exchange for the safe return of loved ones. While the ransom demand is real, the actual kidnapping is fake - the "victim" is safe and usually completely unaware of the incident. The Los Angeles police department has received more than 250 reports of such crimes during the past two years, and people have wired more than $100,000 to fraudsters, said Capt. William Hayes, who commands the Robbery Homicide Division."Callers...will typically provide the victim with specific instructions to ensure safe 'return' of the allegedly kidnapped individual," the FBI said earlier this year. "These instructions usually involve demands of a ransom payment. Most schemes use various techniques to instill a sense of fear, panic, and urgency in an effort to rush the victim into making a very hasty decision. Instructions usually require the ransom payment be made immediately and typically by wire transfer."Here are some ways to spot a fake kidnapping scam, according to the federal agency:- Incoming calls come from an unfamiliar area code- Calls do not come from the alleged victim’s phone- Callers attempt to keep you on the phone for as long as possible- Callers try to prevent you from contacting or locating the “kidnapped” victim- Ransom money is only accepted via wire transfer serviceAnyone who believes that he or she has been targeted in a fake kidnapping scam should follow this protocol:- Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to the victim directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”- If they don’t let you speak to the victim, ask them to describe the victim or their vehicle- Listen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim if they speak- Attempt to call, text, or contact the victim via social media- While staying on the line with alleged kidnappers, try to call the alleged kidnap victim from another phone- To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving- Don’t argue with the caller- Request the alleged victim call back from his/her mobile phoneComplaints can be filed with the FTC here.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Virtual kidnapping scams are - when criminals demand money from victims in exchange for the safe return of loved ones. While the ransom demand is real, the actual kidnapping is fake - the "victim" is safe and usually completely unaware of the incident.

The Los Angeles police department has received more than 250 reports of such crimes during the past two years, and people have wired more than $100,000 to fraudsters, , who commands the Robbery Homicide Division.

"Callers...will typically provide the victim with specific instructions to ensure safe 'return' of the allegedly kidnapped individual," earlier this year. "These instructions usually involve demands of a ransom payment. Most schemes use various techniques to instill a sense of fear, panic, and urgency in an effort to rush the victim into making a very hasty decision. Instructions usually require the ransom payment be made immediately and typically by wire transfer."

Here are some ways to spot a fake kidnapping scam, the federal agency:

- Incoming calls come from an unfamiliar area code
- Calls do not come from the alleged victim’s phone
- Callers attempt to keep you on the phone for as long as possible
- Callers try to prevent you from contacting or locating the “kidnapped” victim
- Ransom money is only accepted via wire transfer service

Anyone who believes that he or she has been targeted in a fake kidnapping scam should follow this protocol:

- Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to the victim directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”
- If they don’t let you speak to the victim, ask them to describe the victim or their vehicle
- Listen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim if they speak
- Attempt to call, text, or contact the victim via social media
- While staying on the line with alleged kidnappers, try to call the alleged kidnap victim from another phone
- To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving
- Don’t argue with the caller
- Request the alleged victim call back from his/her mobile phone

Complaints can be filed .

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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